Self-Efficacy

What is self efficacy?

From Wikipedia:

Self-efficacy is the extent or strength of one's belief in one's own ability to complete tasks and reach goals.^[1] Psychologists have studied self-efficacy from several perspectives, noting various paths in the development of self-efficacy; the dynamics of self-efficacy, and lack thereof, in many different settings; interactions between self-efficacy and self-concept; and habits of attribution that contribute to, or detract from, self-efficacy.
Self-efficacy affects every area of human endeavor. By determining the beliefs a person holds regarding his or her power to affect situations, it strongly influences both the power a person actually has to face challenges competently and the choices a person is most likely to make. These effects are particularly apparent, and compelling, with regard to behaviors affecting health.[

In teaching, is is easy to lose sight of this, yet it is very important for ourselves and our students.  According to Mike Anderson in his book The Well-Balanced Teacher, "when teachers have a high degree of self-efficacy, they are more persistent, work harder, have more enthusiasm for teaching, are less critical of students who make errors, have more goals and aspirations, are more open to new ideas, and have a greater commitment to teaching" (p. 67-68).

To achieve self-efficacy, try some of the following:

• keep a folder or scrapbook of all the nice notes, emails, pictures, etc you receive from parents, students, colleagues or administration.  Pull it out often!
• Allow yourself to feel GOOD about your teaching.  Choose a few good moments each week and document these or at least take the time to reflect on them
• Let go of things you CANNOT change (scheduling, parents, etc) and focus on things you can control.
• set achievable goals for yourself and congratulate yourself when you meet them!
• stop talking down about yourself!
• learn to accept compliments and just say "thank you," instead of rationalizing 

If you're still wondering why you went into this profession or are feeling down on yourself, watch a few of the following movie/video clips about the power of teaching!

10 Inspiring Teacher videos to lift your spirit:
http://www.nicksenger.com/blog/10-inspiring-teacher-videos-to-lift-your-spirit

Movies about great teaching:

Stand and Deliver
Dangerous Minds
Lean on Me
Mr. Holland's Opus
Dead Poet Society
To Sir, With Love
The Miracle Worker
Renaissance Man
Good Will Hunting
Mona Lisa Smile
Freedom Writers
Educating Rita
Waiting for Superman
Music of the Heart
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Precious
The Karate Kid

Believe in yourself, Believe in your students, Believe in Education!!

Managing Stress as a Teacher

Teachers face all kinds of stress.

•  Stress about curriculum (hello? new common core!)
• stress about getting it all done
• stress about performance (Danielson evaluations)
• Stress about student performance
• Physical stress from being on your feet all day
• Stress of dealing with difficult students
• Stress of dealing with difficult parents
• Stress about meeting each child's individual needs
• Stress about your students' well-being (home problems)
• Stress about wearing multiple hats (teacher, nurse, social worker, parent, spouse, etc)

Let's face it.  Stress isn't going away from a teacher's job.  So how can you manage it to perform at your maximum potential?

Here are a few ideas to get you started.  Please add your own de-stressifyers in the comments!

• relax at some point during the day
• enjoy a lunch or coffee with a friend (no work allowed!)
• call a friend for a good talk
• take a yoga class to calm your mind
• meditate or engage in prayer
• read a good book
• turn off all electronics
• take a bubble bath
• take a walk

• reward yourself for a job well-done-go shopping or get a pedicure
• schedule your workload in a doable way
• build a support system of colleagues, friends and family 
• surround yourself with positive people
• leave work at work; try not to bring your worries home
• be compassionate with your students
• Center yourself before entering the class
• laugh with your students!
• remain positive about your job and make teaching fun!

Here are a few other articles on the topic of managing teacher stress:
http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2012/mar/12/managing-teacher-stress

http://www.stress-relief-choices.com/stress-management-for-teachers.html

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin413.shtml

Above all, remember that we chose this profession for a reason.  Take time to reflect on that and know that you can't get it all done and it's OK!

Meeting our most basic needs

As teachers, it can be difficult to take care of ourselves well.  However, we have to make a conscious effort to take care of our own needs FIRST.  Yes, I said it.  We need to take care of OURSELVES before we take care of our students and our family.  Why?  Because when we take care of our selves, everyone else will benefit.  As Mike Anderson has said in his book, The Well-Balanced Teacher, "our poor selfcare has profound negative repercussions for our students." (p. 10)

Here are the areas we should focus on:

EATING HEALTHY

• eat a healthy breakfast before the day begins.  Quick items you can grab n go work well for teachers rushing out the door
• fruit and yogurt
• yogurt and granola
• cereal and fruit
• homemade fruit and yogurt smoothie
• fruit and cheese
• peanut butter waffle
•  whole wheat bagel or toast with jam or low-fat cream cheese 

• make sure to eat lunch (don't work straight through)  Take time to sit and really eat and relax.  Try to eat something substantial and healthy instead of opting for the prepackaged frozen dinners or food from the cafeteria.  
• Healthy snacks can keep you going!  Just remember, if snacks are around, they will get eaten.   So make sure the ones you keep in your stash will do more good than harm!
• Consider keeping a food log for two weeks so you become more conscious of what you are eating.  

GET ENOUGH WATER

• Sip water throughout the day.  FREQUENTLY. 
• Be sure to get to the bathroom when you need to-use a neighbor or support staff to help cover your room for a few minutes

EXERCISE

• Just a little bit counts!  Try for 20 minutes of walking even.  
• Have a consistent and nonnegotiable time for exercising-it will become routine
• Have a partner or group to hold you accountable
• Do something you enjoy!
• Get students involved.
• Keep moving while you work (wear a pedometer to see just how many steps you take in a day!)
• record your progress!  It will help motivate you.

SLEEP

• GET ENOUGH!
• Stick to a bedtime, even if work still needs to be done.

PHYSICAL SAFETY
If you find yourself in a threatening work environment, take these steps:

• Get support from Administration-make sure they are aware of the situation
• Enlist in help from your colleagues
• Make a tough decision to get out if you don't feel safe

SPIRITUAL NEEDS
While many of our needs are physical in nature, be sure not to neglect your own spirit.  Here are some suggestions for ways to disconnect from school.

• Read for pleasure
• keep a journal to process events
• engage in meditation or prayer
• have someone you can confide in and talk openly with
• participate in a community of faith
• connect with nature
• participate in a hobby

Although each teacher's experience is different, there is no doubt that teachers often put others' needs before their own.  Be sure to take care of yourself.  Everyone else in your life will benefit.

*Many ideas taken from The Well-Balanced Teacer by Mike Anderson (2010).

Creating a Fun and Engaging Classroom

We all know that the demands that are placed on us are growing exponentially each year.  The resources that are given to us are taking the creativity out of our teaching.  The kids come with more and more baggage each year.  In essence, there is no FUN left in teaching!

Yet you don't have to sit by and let it happen!  You CAN make teaching fun again!

Here are just suggestions to get you started.  Please feel free to add your own in the comments.

Go digital!  When possible, bring in technology to get kids motivated about learning.  Encourage them to use technology to share their own learning.  Play games.  Show video clips.  And don't be afraid to learn FROM your students!

Get crafty.  I know, you'll say you don't have time for that anymore.  But just because your students are creating something doesn't mean the learning doesn't continue.  Let them be creative and problem solve how to create something.  

Go up or down. Work with a buddy class.  Older kids can learn a lot from helping younger kids.  They can read to them or help them on a computer-based project.  They can work with struggling students on math facts or sight words.  Let's face it, there's  a lot more fun working with a cool 5th grader than with the teacher, right?  Younger kids can practice their growing reading skills by reading to their older buddy.  They can perform reader's theatre for the older class to practice their fluency skills.  The kids can be pen pals and write letters back and forth.  The possibilities are endless, and they are just plain fun.

Think outside the box.  If students need to work on their math skills, hold a math olympics.   To work on reading, perform readers' theatre.  To share what you've learned about a character from your book, have a day when students become that character and share about themselves.  None of these things take the place of actual instruction, yet they are much more fun and meaningful for students.

Have students help with the design and layout of the classroom.  Students will be much more likely to want to work in an environment in which they are comfortable and helped create.  

Take time to slow down and let kids be kids.  Bring back the joy to teaching.  Your kids and your health will thank you!.

Teacher Wellness

My reason for creating this blog is for a class I am taking on teacher wellness.  We all know that teachers work too hard for too little pay and our health is not thanking us for it!  Teachers are horrible about meeting our most basic needs, so we need to be proactive about how that can change.  On this blog, I hope to address some issues that teachers should be aware of.  I am hoping that others will comment and keep the conversation going!